Undergarment



C. BULL INGEJR UNDERGA'RMENT Filed May 22, 1939 lllll" Aug. 29, 1939.

Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED STATES 2,171,354 UNDERGARMENT Conrad Bullinger, Riverside, Ill., assignor to A. Stein & Company, Chicago, 111., a col" nation of Illinois Application May 22, 1939, Serial No. 275,120

9 Claims.

This invention relates to undergarments and more particularly to undergarments of the type designed to constrict the body and to support the abdomen. v The main objects of the invention are to provide an undergarment of the type mentioned which will fit the wearer smoothly and snugly in such a manner as to be comfortable to wear; to provide in such a garment means for effectively 10 supporting or holding in the abdomen of the wearer; to provide a garment of the type indicated with an abdominal supporting arrangement which may be adjusted to properly fit persons of different waistline measurements; to provide a 15 garment of the type mentioned which will have a smooth inside surface so that it will be comfortable to wear notwithstanding the presence of the abdominal supporting means; and in general, it is the object of the invention to provide an 20 improved undergarment of the type referred to.

The invention herein disclosed is applicable to both men's and womens garments and other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein .garments embodying selected forms of the invention are illustrated.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a back view of a girdle type garment 30 for womens wear, a portionof the back part of the garment being broken out to reveal an abdominal supporting element associated with the front part of the garment;

Figure 2 is a front view of a girdle type garment 35 designed for mens' wear;

Figure 3 is a perspective of a foundation garment for womens wear; and

Figure 4 is asection onthe line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the girdle type garment shown in Figure l embodies an elastic main fabric body member 5, the same being preferably, but not necessarily, of knit material. The body member may be of one-way or two-way 'stretch material arranged so that it may stretch 5 circumferentially so as to be self-adjustable within certain limits to conform to the body of the wearer. As indicated in theilgure, the garment, if of knitted material, may be shaped in the knitting operation so as to provide it with an 50 upper edge-6 adapted to be located at or adjacent the waistline of the wearerand of a smaller diameter than the lower portion 1 which is adapted to constrict the buttocks of the wearer.

On the inside of the front of the garment, overlying that portion thereof which normally overlies the abdominal regions of the wearer, there is provided an adjustable, inextensible arrangement comprising inextensible fabric members 8 and 9, respectively, each of which is preferably formed of woven, non-stretchable fabric material. The 5 members 8 and 9 are stitched along their outer side edges i8 and II, respectively to the front portion 12 of the garment. The stitching for so attaching the members 8 and 9 is indicated at M and I5, respectively, and extends from the upper ends of the members 8 and 9 downwardly adjacent the outer side edges thereof and about half-way across the width at the bottom only, of the respective members as indicated at i3, [3.

The member 9 extends inwardly from the sitch- 15 ing I5 and is refolded outwardly upon itself as indicated at 56 and stitched to itself by spaced parallel lines of stitching I! and I8, so as to form between said lines of stitching and between the main part of the member 9 and the refolded portion 18 thereof, a pocket for receiving a stay 20. The stay 28 may be of bone, metal or other suitable material, and should be stiff enough to resist folding, wrinkling or sagging of the member 9. The pocket in which the stay 28 is received is closed at its ends by suitable edge-finishing stitching which is employed across the top and bottom ends and along the outer side edge of the member 9, as indicated in Figure 1.

The member 8 is made from fabric as is em- 0 ployed in making the member 8 but it is refolded inwardly upon itself as indicated at 21 and the refolded part stitched to the main body of the member by spaced parallel lines of stitching 2i and 22, respectively, which, together with the plies of the material thereby secured together, form a pocket for positioning a stay 23. The member 8 is, for a second time, folded upon itself as indicated at 24 so as to provide a flap or fly part 25 which is adapted to extend across the inside sur- 4Q face of the portions of the members 8 and 9 which are adjacent their inner edges, i. e., adjacent the edge folds l6 and 2|, respectively.

The members 8 and 9 are each provided with a series of eyelets such as indicated at 28 and 21, respectively, located adjacent the folded edges 2| and I6, and adapted to receive lacing 28. The lacing is adapted to be adjusted to provide any desired limited separation of the member 8 relative to the member 9, and it may be tied and the knotted portions tucked between the members 8 and Sand the body portion 5 of the garment. The flap or fly 25, being of relatively smooth woven material, presents a smooth inside surface to protect the wearer from chafing by the lacing. Other arrangements for adjustably connecting the flaps 8 and 9 may, of course, be substituted for the eyelets and lacing mentioned.

The structure shown in Figure 1 is such that stretching of the elastic body portion in the areas thereof which overlie the wearersabdominal regions is limited or wholly prevented, although there is no interference with normal stretching of the remainder of the body of the garment. It will be understood, therefore, that the relatively unstretchable abdominal covering members are adapted to effectively support or hold in the abdomen, such action being made especially effective as an incident to the increased tension of the elastic material in the side and back portions of the garment in circumferential alignment with said abdominal controlling members.

The increased tension of the elastic material just referred to results from the increased stretching required of the portions of the garment which remain free to stretch. Such increased tension serves to more firmly resist outward displacement of the members 8 and 9, and thus enables the latter to more effectively serve its supporting function. The garment illustrated in Figure 2 is particularly designed for mens wear. It comprises a body member 39 of elastic material of the same general construction as the body member 5 in the womens garment shown in Figure 1. An abdominal constricting arrangement in the men's garment may comprise inextensible fabric members 3| and 32 secured at their respective outer edges by stitching to the fabric of the main body member 39 and adjustably connected adjacent their inner edges by lacing 33. Suitable stays 34 may beenclosed in pockets formed in the members 3| and 32 substantially in the manner in which the pocket for the stay 20 is formed as shown in Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 2, the inextensible members 3i and 32 are tapered in their width from their upper ends to their lower ends, this arrangement being desirable, particularly in a mans garment, so as to avoid interference bythe lower outer corners of the members 3| and 32 with free leg movement. The tapered form is, of course, not essential, and the rounded corner form shown in Figure 1 may be substituted. However, in a man's garment the styling shown in Figure 2 is preferred.

A crotch pouch such as indicated at 35 may be detachably connected by snap fasteners or other suitable means to the lower marginal portion of the body member 30.

The garment illustrated in Figure 3 constitutes a foundation garment including a brassire part 36, an intermediate or waist part 31, and a lower part 38. The parts 31 and 38 may conveniently and economically be made integrally of tubular knitted elastic material embodying rubber warp threads extending circumferentially of the garment so as to permit stretching of the same transversely, but other fabrics, whether or not embodying rubber threads, affording the desired stretchability may be employed. Abdominal constricting members 39 and 40 are, in this case, secured at their outer edges to the intermediate portion 31, and the inner edges of said members are adjustably connected by lacing 4|. Stays such as indicated at 42, 42 may be enclosed in pockets formed in the members 39 and 48 in any suitable manner, for example, as shown in Figure 4, or, for a simplified construction, by means of fabric or tape strips overlying the stays, preferably on the inside of the members 39 and 40 and stitched thereto so as to form with the members 39 and 40, pockets in which said stays fit and are retained.

As shown in Figure 3, the inextensible members 39 and 40are made to taper upwardly from theirlower ends and they also taper somewhat from their outer side edges toward their inner edges. This arrangement, although perhaps not quite so desirable as that shown in Figures 1 and 2, serves to widen the supporting area, especially across the lower abdominal regions, and thereby enhances the supporting effect.

In each of the garment constructions shown, the adjustably connected, relatively ineXtensible fabric members are secured along their outer edges to the stretchable body material in such a manner that when the lacing is released, the body fabric under the respective inextensible members may be stretched until the lacing prevents further separation of the inextensible members.

In the arrangements shown in Figures 2 and 3, the inextensible members are secured to the body members only along the outer side edges of the inextensible members, and in the arrangement shown in Figure l the inextensible members are additionally secured by stitching extending approximately half-way across the lower ends of said members. Thus, there remains ample area of elastic fabric underlying the inextensible members 8 and 9 to permit considerable adjustment of the members 8 and 9 as an incident to stretching of the body fabric.

The described garments offer the wearer desirable supporting functions while at the same time comfort characteristics which are due to the conformability of the elastic fabric to the body of the wearer. The employment of the stiffeners or stays serves to increase the effectiveness of the inextensible members to hold the abdomen flat or straight without any discomforting, localized pressureapplication.

Changes in the described structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which should be determined by reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly as possible, consistent with the state of the art.

I claim:

1. A garment of the class described comprising a waist part made of material which is stretchable horizontally of the garment and adapted to substantially completely encircle the body of the wearer, and means for limiting the transverse stretchability of said waist part in the abdominal area comprising right and left flaps of inelastic material disposed respectively over corresponding portions of the abdominal area of said waist part, said flaps having their outer edges fixedly secured to the garment and their inner edges provided with adjustable interconnecting means.

" 2. A garment of the class described comprising a waist part of elastic tubular knit material stretchable horizontally substantially completely around the garment, means for limiting the transverse stretchability of said waist'part in the abdominal area comprising right and left flaps of. inelastic material disposed respectively over corresponding portions of theabdominal area of said waist part, said flaps having their outer edges fixedly secured to the garment and their inner edges provided with adjustable interconnecting means, and longitudinal stiffeners ap- 5 termined extent.

plied to said flaps between their outer and inner edges.

material disposed respectively over corresponding portions of the abdominal area of said waist part, said flaps having cured to the garment and their inner edges provided with adjustable interconnecting means, longitudinal stitfener'pockets on saidfiaps between their outer and inner edges, each formed by a reverse fold in its respective flap, and stillener strips in said pockets. 7

4. A garment of the class described comprising a waist part of elastic tubular knit material stretchable horizontally substantially completely around the garment and adapted to completely encircle the body of the wearer, and adjustable inelastic means applied to the outside of the abdominal area of said waist part for limiting the stretchability of the latter in said area, said inelastic means comprising relatively independent, right and left flaps disposed in opposition to each other and having their outer edges secured to said waist part and their adjacent edges provided with adjustable interconnecting means, whereby the circumferential spread of said flaps incident to stretching of said waist part is adapted to be limited to 'a predetermined extent.

5. A garment of the class described comprising a waist part made of material which is stretchable horizontally of the garment and adapted to substantially completely encircle the body of the wearer, and adjustable inelastic means applied to the outside of the abdominal area of said waist part for limiting the stretchability of the latter in said area, said inelastic means comprising relatively independent, right and left flaps disposed in opposition to each other and having their outer edges secured to said waist part and their adjacent edges provided with adjustable interconnecting means, whereby the circumferential spread of said flaps incident to stretching of said Waistpart is adapted to their outer edges fixedly se-' 3 a protective fly be limited to a prede- 6. A garment of the class described, comprising a waist part of elastic tubular knit material stretchable horizontally substantially completely around the garment, and means for limiting the transverse stretchability of said waist part in the abdominal area comprising right and left flaps of inelastic material disposed respectively over corresponding portions of the abdominal area of said waist part, said flaps being of increasing width from their upper to their lower ends and having their outer edges fixedly secured to the garment and their inner edges provided with adjustable interconnecting means.

'7. A garment of the class described comprising a waist part of elastic tubular knit material stretchable horizontally substantially completely around the garment, and means for limiting the transverse stretchability of said waist part in the abdominal area comprising right and left flaps of inelastic material disposed respectively over corresponding portions of the abdominal area of said waist part, said flaps being of increasing length from their inner to their outer edges and having their outer edges fixedly secured to the garment and 'their inner edges provided with adjustable interconnecting means.

8. A garment of the class described comprising a waist part of .elastic tubular "knit material stretchable horizontally substantially completely around the garment, and means for limiting the transverse stretchability of said waist part in the abdominal 'area comprising right and left flaps of inelastic material disposed. respectively over corresponding portions of the abdominal area of said waist part, said flaps being of increasing width from their upper to their lower ends and of increasing length from their inner to their outer edges and having their outer edges fixedly secured to the garment and their inner edges provided with adjustable interconnecting means. V

9. A garment according to claim 1 in which said flaps are disposed on the inside of the waist part of the garment and which is provided with of relatively i smooth material secured to one of said flaps and adapted to extend over'said adjustable interconnecting means to. protect the wearer from said means.

CONRAD BULLINGER. 

